Domestic electric heater



June 28, 1949. c. c. DoYLE 2,474,472

DOMESTIC ELECTRIC HEATER Filed March 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

June 28, 1949. c. c. DoYLE 2,474,472

DOMESTIC ELECTRIC HEATER Filed March 20', 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR.

CHA/w55 C. 00H E BY Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention pertains to an electric heater intended and adapted for domestic use as a household appliance.

Throughout the milder regions of the temperate Zone where central-furnace heating installations are not universal and even northward when and Where the initial cost, operation and maintenance of central heating systems might be excessive or in localities (expectably to increase) where electricity ls furnished at a low cost or as auxiliary, fixed or portable units; there has remained a need for a more eiiicient, more durable and more attractive electric-heater construction and thereby the general object of my origination has been declared. Specific objects have been: to accomplish a more effective circulation by employment of a cooperative, electrically-operated blower or ian on an adjustable or oscillating carrier and in peculiar iunctionating relationship to infrared-glowing resistance wiring; to partially conceal the utilitarian, induction-heat element in an appropriately ornamental dielectric support, which might simulate natural logs, by the application over the resistance wiring of movably attached particles, for instance mica iiakes, and to provide an adjustable baffle positioned to intercept the air current from the fan as an alternative or added control of the direction of air flow in reference to the energized wiring whereby varying sections of the latter and differing groups of the covering particles if of current-conducting material, especialiy when further swayed by the air current into contact with the energized wiring, will be indiscriminately caused to glow with a scintillating or flickering effect pleasing to observe.

More particularly, my origination comprehends three adaptations, first, as a portable, floor-type stove which might be located in a bathroom; second, as a unit built in the wall of a building which would conserve space, provide safe, permanent wiring and be engineered for most efficient Operation and, third, a fireplace type which might likewise be permanently built into a standard hearth or a false hearth because no flue is required.

There have been marketed electric, hot-aircirculating heaters which blew air past the source of heat in such a way that it was rst too cold and then too concentratedly hot. I have improved electric-heat dissemination by attaining the uniform heating of an oven and while retaining the open glow and infrared benet by achieving a combination of the conducted heat accumulated in a reflector and the convec- I believe that tion heat from glowing resistance wiring. Moreover, I have successfully added a dual control of the direction of heat flow (without bodily shift of the heater in its entirety), exempliedly, by an oscillatory ian and by an adjustable bafe which are adapted for conjunctive functionating. An incidental object has been the facility of replacement of individual resistance units and their selective energization in various combinations when in gang arrangement, Optionally, the switch for closing the circuit with a high, medium or low on or to an ci position, might simultaneously control similar stages of operation of the fan or blower. Alternatively, the ian might operate at the same speed for all heats. My heater housing is designed to have a conformation comprising a reflector curved partially around the resistance unit or units such that, with or without the additional baiiie, the air flow becomes directed around the rear of the resistance wiring instead of having the entire surface of the latter exposed to the former. The air iiow has been advantageously directed downwardly behind the resistance wiring to pass underneath the latter, through a protective grille and out into the room. In some installations I contemplate letting the resistance coils function as rheostats for regulating the operating speed of the blower. A further regulation is accomplished by control of the size of the outlet or outlets for the air current to be discharged against the reiieetor; the baiiie if employed cooperating to vary the direction or force or both of the issuing air current.

The fireplace or false hearth form ci my invention, the latter lacking any iiue or chimney, has either an air-permeable cover for the resistance units or the resistance wiring is directly carried by coal or wood simulating supports in substitution for the cores oi the standard units. Mica ilakes or any other translucent functionally equivalent dielectric plastic, as and where used, are intertwisted or mechanically connected in any suitable or feasible manner, for instance, by a non-combustible attachment to the wiring, with edges of the flakes under and over the wiring, whereby certain contacted sections of the wiring are caused more brightly to glow. The action of an induced air current will cause a limited movement or iluttering of the free edging of the iiakes and changes in the direction of the air current indeterminedly varies the contactual relationship of the akes and wiring, whereby doubly to provide shiitingly uneven glow centers as in real embers.

In considering the drawings and the particularizing description of all illustrated details, it is to be realized that the scope of my invention comprehends many equivalent constructions, of which the chosen exemplications constitute only a few of the equally feasible mechanical embodiments within the scope of the granted claims.

Adverting to the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an appliance embodying the features of my origination, with one side wall removed to reveal certain operative units.

Figure 2 is a front elevation except that a portion of a protective grill appears broken away.

Figure 3 is a much simplified modification of a portable, limited-area-heating unit, shownas a side elevation.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of Figure 4, though again with a portion of a grill-guard shown broken away.

Figure 6 is another simplified modification adapted for recession into the conilnes of a wall structure.

Figure '7 is a final modification, shown as a perspective view (the left side removed) adapting to fireplace installation and to scintillating or flickering performance with an infinite number of constantly varying patterns to simulate the Slow and flicker of real wood embers.

Figure 8 is a left end view of Figure 7.

A frame I', of quadrilateral shape as illustrated, may rest on four corner legs 2 and comprises: a rear wall 3 provided below with air-intake louvres 4, a pair of side walls 5 and 6, a composite front wall l fashioned interiorly with a ledge Ta and with a protective grill continuation 8 which extends upwardly and terminates at Q as an inturned flange. A top Il] has a depending forward end I I which constitutes a nearly complementary part of the front wall consequent to the provision of an inturned lower edge to form a flange I2 which is spacedly appositioned to the flange 9, as is clearly shown in Figure l.

A semi-cylindrical reflector I3 has one margin I3a resting on the ledge la. while its other, upper margin I3b is adjustably connected, through the agency of a plurality of alined thumb screws Ill, with the flange I2. As will be readily understood, the screws pass through the flange I2 at suitable distances from each other and are in screw-threaded connection with the appropriately tapped and correspondingly spaced number of holes along the adjustable baille margin ISb of the reflector whereby substantially equivalent manipulation of the screws may enlarge or reduce the width of the passage between the flange I2 and the upper margin of the reflector. The purpose of such an adjustable free space as a passage for a current of air will be hereinafter eX- plained.

Along the median line of the reflector it carries a number of studs I5 (three in the chosen exemplication) between end pairs of which and by means of suspension-conductors 5S a pair of axially alined resistance units il' are hung. Suitable connection with a source of electric current, required insulation and other details of construction will require no further description here when it is added that such are shown, described and claimed in my pending application, led February l5, 1945 and bearing Serial No, 578,102.

Located interiorly of the frame or casing is an electric motor I8 for driving a fan I9 which is arranged and adapted to direct a current of air, replenishing through the louvres 4, toward the top I0 as suggested by the indicating arrows in Figure 1, thence along the forward end I I and through the adjustable passage toward the rear of the units Il prior to finding exit through the grill 8. I am to be credited with realizing that it is optional whether to have the motor I8 and fan I9 simultaneously operable during any initiated energization of the resistance units I'I or alternatively subject to separate switch control. The purpose of the induced air current is to produce the pleasing effect attending an indiscriminate cooling or brightening of the glowing resistance wiring of the units I'I. Besides the control afforded through variation of size of the passage past the lower side of the upper margin ISD of the reflector, the fan I9 might be of the oscillatory type. In either case, the areas or sections of the resistance wiring to be intermittently cooled momentarily as well as the relative locations of the constantly changing cooled portions of the resistance Wiring serve gratiedly to fascinate, the shifting of glowing portions accomplishing the desired flickering.

The modification of Figures 4 and 5 comprises two end standards 20 and 2| across the upper ends of whichA there is pivoted at 22 so as to be frictionally swingable a heating unit 23. A handle 24 may surmount each of the standards to facilitate portability. Similarly within the reflector proper 23, are the pair of resistance units 25 partially enclosed by a grill 26 and subject to the control of a switch 21. The friction required to be overcome preparatory to setting the angular position of the heating unit as may be desired with relation to the standards, insures that it stays where set until manipulative force again effects a shifting readjustment.

The modification portrayed in Figure 6 is virtually the same in structural arrangement as Figure 5 except for the omission of the standards for which wall-studding 28 and 29 will serve an equivalent supporting function and between any pair of wall studs areflector 3B may be fastened rearwardly of the chosen number of resistance units and grill. The precise manner of effecting installation as a so-called building fixture requires no description, nor the selective relocation of the control switch because the intent in adding Figure 6 is merely to record its feasibility and because modi-fled details are not specifically claimed.

Figure 7 introduces a claimed added feature for promotion of the flickering performance which is calculated more closely to simulate the universal human attraction furnishedy by real, openre, embers. In a fireplace which comprises a hearth 3 I, is a rear deflector 32 terminating above as a forwardly curved hood 33 adapted to direct artiflcally created air flow. A metal fire basket 34 supports at its rear a hollow, cylindrical artificial log 35 in which may be concealedly located a motor, fan and a baille (not shown because together cooperating as an operative equivalent oi such a triad arrangement appearing in Figure l). Also in the basket 34 forwardly of the log is a semi-cylindrical log 36 serving as a dielectric carrier for resistance wiring 3.1 which is strung back and forth on its front, flat side, Particles 38 adapted to readily come to a glow or as readily to cool, for instance mica flakes, are indiscriminately scattered upon and suitably alxed to the log 36 so as to resist dislodgement Linder intense heat. If mica flakes are employed they will contact and/ or partially overlap each some particular section of the wiring 3l and preferably be attached at say, only one end whereby the other free end may have limited swinging movement imparted thereto, consequent to the inherent resiliency of the akes when subjected to the induced air current. Superimposed on the logs 35 and 36 there is shown another semi-cylindrical log 39 having its flat, front face disposed at an angle with reference to the plane of the flat face of the log 36 and being of shorter length than the log 36. Resistance wiring 46 is similarly strung on (optionally recessed in grooves in) the log 39 and particles and/or flakes 4| of any incombustible material adapted to glow arel scattered upon and secured to it. The electrical connections with a source of currentl and a switch have not been illustrated in Figure 7 because within the earliest bounds of the experience of any electrician.

After the resistance wirings 31 and 46 have become energized, certain of the particles or flakes will be caused to glow. However, upc-n operation of the fan, by simultaneous or separately accomplished switch control, the air current downwardly directed by the hood 33 will cause the flakes indiscriminately to sway or wave thereby constantly altering the multitude of points of on and oir glow to achieve the contemplated effect of dancing high light centers.

It should be understood that the flickering effect may be achieved, though somewhat less realistically, without the superlcialy adhesion of particles or flakes (asbestos, mica or any suitable equivalent) because the induced air current, while shiftingly applied to the open-glow resistance wiring, will cause sections of it alternately to cool and to again glow.

Alternatively, another wall 42 is erected behind the metal basket 34 and is spaced forwardly of the delector 32 while approaching somewhat closer to it at the top or directly over the basket 34 to terminate as a downwardly curved llange 43 forming, in conjunction with the depending edge of the hood 33, an elongated discharge slot 44 clirected toward the inclined flat surface of the upper log 39. Supported midway at the bottom of the space between the deflector 33 and reilecting wall 42 is an oscillatory electric blower comprising a standard 45, shaft 46, connection 41 adapted to swing through a predetermined arc about a horizontal axis so that its propeller 48 assumes either its full-line or its dot-and-dash-line position, as shown in Figure 8. Details of the commonly used oscillatory mechanism have not been illustrated because not only old, but unclaimed by itself herein. Suiiice it to add that, at its two extreme positions of swinging movement, the propeller blows so as to establish a major current of air either toward one end (side wall of the fire-place) or the other whereby the flickering effect shifts longitudinally along the wiring and progressively and varyingly cools sections thereof and differing groups of the myriad of particles or flakes 4 I distributed thereon.

I claim:

1. An electric heater comprising the combination of a support, resistance wiring adapted for infrared glowing and secured to said support, flat pieces movably carried by said support and adapted indiscriminately to contact said wiring and blower means for effecting such contacts whereby to achieve a flickering effect.

2. The combination in an electric heater, of a support, resistance wiring adapted to glow and carried by said support, particles movably carried in scattered arrangement on said support, a fan for moving said particles into contact with said wiring and a baille adjustably mounted on said support and arranged to intercept the air current from said fan.

3. The combination, in an electric heater, of a dielectric support, resistance wiring on said support and adapted to glow and particles overlying said wiring and adapted in response to an air current for dimited movement relative thereto and for chilling-contact with said wiring.

4. In an electric heater, the combination of a core, resistance wiring recessed in said core and adapted to glow, incombustible flickering particles movably overlying said wiring and a blower for actuating said pieces into contact with said wiring.

5. In an electric heater, the combination of a dielectric core fashioned with a convoluted groove, resistance wiring occupying said groove and adapted for infrared glo-w, mica particles movably attached to said core and extending across said wiring, a blower, and adjustable means for variously directing the air current from said blower whereby dierent ones of said particles intermittently-contact said wiring.

6. An electric, fire-place heater comprising the combination of a log-simulating support, resistance wiring adapted to glow and carried upon said support, flat pieces of light weight and each having an end attached to said support whereby their free ends are adapted indiscriminately to sway into and out of contact with said wiring in response to any current of air about said support.

CHARLES C. DOYLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNI'ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,254,790 Fuller Jan. 29, 1918 1,655,987 Dickinson Jan. 10, 1928 1,672,724 McCormick June 5, 1928 1,719,266 Hersh July 2, 1929 2,316,563 Clemons Apr. 13, 1943 2,329,592 Clemons Sept. 14, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 366,759 Great Britain Feb. 11, 19,32 

